The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-30
A Confusion About Pairs Makes This Neces-
sary to Avoid ANY Possible Accidents That
Might Arise Through Misunderstanding.
Smiths Temper on the Rampage Leads
to Lively Episode in the Senate.
Probable Combination Between Gray and
Bynum to Capture the Governors Office
and Senatorial Chair Two Years Hence.

When the joint convention was called to order
yesterday noon, Senator Smith presiding the
roll-call of his house announced, with a good
deal of complacency, that the names of sixteen
Senators, representing eight pairs, would no. be
considered among those present More than half
Of them had left the city, but it gave the Senate
barely quorum. 1t has been Senator Smiths
highest purpose in this emergency to keep for
duty, at all times, a quorum of his colleagues.
Among the Representatives the pairing was in
trusted to a commttee-Messrs. Gardiner and
Jewe.t-but they were required to meet such a
demand that they did not have time to get the
report in good form before the convention met.
Thirty pairs had been arranged, but one was
not to take effect until after the voting To each
member entering into arrangements of this kind
a written agreement was given. setting forth the
conditions under which the parties thereto were
to abstain from voting for Senator. With these
in force the House did not have quorum, al
though many held by the agreements were pres
ent 1t is accepted that paired member is put
alone upon his honor, and that If he should hap
| pen to regard party exgencies higher than indi-
| vidual political integrity he could insist on hav
| ing his name called and his vote recorded,
| which it is argued by some would
! not invalidate the record if candidate thereby
should receive majority. It being evident that
| only forty Representatives entitled to vote were
present. Representative Jewett moved that the
calling Of the roll for the purpose of ascertain
| ing the number be dispensed with, since deduct
| ing the pairs it was shown that Only twenty
three Republicans, thirteen Democrats and four
| independents could answer. If the call is made,
he said confusion will follow, as there are many
| of the paired memb ers present Representative
f., Kelison could not see the advisability of such
| course He thought if the call was made
enough members could be found to secure a
quorum. He would, therefore, move as sub
stitute, that the roll be called through, and then
again to mark off the pairs Representative
Jewett said the better way would be to have the
pairs announced as the roll was called at first if
it is to be called at all Senator Winters thought
that paired members ought not to be called under
any circumstances. 1t resulted in having the
House roll passed over by consent, and the SEN
ators then called to vote for United
States Senator.
responded as usual for Turpie. Senator Smith,
whose senstiveness in regard to his position as
the controller of the Democratic side Of the
joint convention is liable to be rasped on the
slightest notice. began to fret under the condi-
ton of affairs. When the Seer Jtary called Senator
Campbell and that gentleman replied Il decline
to VOTE Senator Smith turned to the Senate
side with jerky motion, if letting out his
height, to express offended dignity, saying
roughly What is the reason?'
II decline to vote" repeated Senator Camp
bell
"Call Senator Campbell" ordered the presd
ing Senator.
II decline to vote
''Mark him present and not voting" was the
dictum Senator Smith delivered, with no deli
cate appreciation of the probability the decina
ton suggested The emitting of one or two
paired Senators and the calling of as many fol
Turpe partially restored Senator Smith, blu,
Senator Dresser again broke in on his eouanim
ty by declining to vote.
"Senator Dresser is not paired" said Senate,
Smith with some irritation.
II decline to vote" repeated Senator Dresser
|, | and in this, as in every other instance of the
kind. Senator Smith ordered that the Senators
should be- marked present and not voting
} When he announced the vote it was, present and
not voting Senator'S Campbell, Dresser Harness
Huston, johnson, Macy. Shroyer, Winter and
Thompson of Jasper all Republicans. Judge
Turpie. received twenty four votes. Senate,
Smith did this to fulfill his idea of preserving
quorum, but on the House call no attention
was paid to the Republicans, twenty Of
them refusing to vote. Representative Ackman
leads the list, but as far any response comina
from him was concerned he might have been
hundred miles away. Representative Kellisor
suggested that the name of Ackman be called
again, when Speaker Sayre said, "The
gentleman refuses to vote 1t is mat
ter of his own concern. Proceed with
| the call" Representative Glover of the Allen
{ quartet, did not answer. and this seemingly dis
! turbed Representative Robinson. who FASTENED
across to the seat of his colleague and remon
strated with him. 1t had no effect, however
and as the call went on Representative Mackev
) another of the quartet looked angrily in the d
, rection of Glover He did not know what tc
make of it, but he took his revenge, as did Rob
inson, in throwing more vigor than the occasion
required into his response for Allen Speaks
| an ho
Allen, 81 but Senator Smith, who under tn,
cartel, announces the total, said: Judge Tqrpi,
has received thirty seven votes; Allen, three
present and not voting thirty four; total seven
ty-four. There is no quorum of the joint con
s vention." A motion to adjourn prevailed. and
after that. the Senators retired to their side O.
the Capitol.
4 Senator Smith had worked himself into .
i fever Of suspicion. Before he reached his desl
: he was convinced trap had been laid for him
: and the more he entertained this absurd ide:
the madden he became. He was ready to throw
/ down the Capitol in his fast-increasing rage
9 and before any of the advisers could get to hin
to cool his overheated temper he had called tn,
Senators to order, and declared he had beer
, imposed upon in regard to the pairing system
He would listen to no one not even to tn,
cooler memb ers of his own party, and perempt
ory ordered Senator French of the Senat
: committee on pairs, to Immediately summon al
absent Senators back to the city. Democra
or two expostulated With him. questioning hi
u right to take the authority to declare pair
!, | off. Senator2 Huston spoke very plainly OF
= this matter and all the time Senator Smith in
= sisted on breaking into his speech with what h
u intended to do, and could convince hr
!, otherwise than that there was bad faith afioat
e Senator Huston persisted in his effort to Civ
y an explanation OF why the Republicans refuse
to vote, but Senator Smith would not listen, an
, ordered him to take his seat, pronouncing tn
o command with aggravating peremptoriress
, Senator Huston kept his rising anger under cor
> troll, bat determindly held the floor when Sena
e tor Smith. On the verge of paroxysm shouted
n ''The Senator viii take his seat. Sit down
It sirn
n Il will not" holly replied Senator Huston
10 unless am declared out or order"
IS "You out or order. Sit down. SIR"